Back when I started collecting comic books, one of my favorite series was Who’s Who: The Definite Directory of the DC Universe. Published between 1984 and 1987, it was a sort of companion to Crisis on Infinite Earths, the twelve issue maxiseries designed to streamline the DC Universe and eliminate any problems in continuity. The character biographies contained inside were my introduction to the DC Universe at large, and they proved useful as I began my scholarship of the DCAU.
While character bios of the characters from Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and other related shows exist, I found many of them to be lacking in depth, content, and quality. Therefore, I’ve taken it upon myself to create character bios for the characters of the DCAU based upon existing information from Series Bibles, the episodes themselves, material from the comic books, and information from the creative teams. Many of these began as bios written for my character profiles on The Justice League Watchtower. Also, the bios I’m writing are limited to characters that I consider key, so no bios for Ubu, Ron Troupe, or the Mad Bomber.
This time, we're doing letters E and F. Again, everyone noteworthy from that section of the dictionary will be included, along with voice actor information, the date and location of their first appearance, and accompanying images.
Easy Company
First Appearance: Our Army at War #81 (April 1959)
Led by Sgt. Rock, Easy Company was the legendary combat unit that fought its way through Europe during the bleak days of World War II. Due to its adaptable roster (taking into account those killed and wounded in battle), the team encountered by Green Lantern consisted of Rock, Bulldozer, Wildman, and Ice Cream Soldier.
Members of Easy Company include the following:
Sgt. Rock
Voiced by Fred Dryer
First Appearance: Our Army at War #83 (June 1959)
Enlisting the day after the Pearl Harbor attack, Frank Rock’s service record became the stuff of legend following his battle field promotion to sergeant following the death of his commander. He received several opportunities for further promotion during the war, but he turned them down, choosing to remain commander of Easy Company.
Bulldozer
Voiced by Ted Levine
First Appearance: Our Army at War #105 (April 1961)
Sgt. Rock’s second-in-command, Corporal Horace “Bulldozer” Canfield found it difficult to trust John Stewart, whom he initially saw as a liability and virtually useless without his power ring. He was proven wrong.
Wildman
First Appearance: Our Army at War #113 (December 1961)
Originally a soft-spoken history teacher, Private Harold Shapiro had a tendency to go off when pushed to the limit, earning him the nickname “Wildman” amongst his teammates.
Ice Cream Soldier
First Appearance: Our Army at War #85 (August 1959)
Despising hot weather, Private Phil Mason became the go-to man when it came to combat in freezing temperatures.
The Electrocutioner
A bloodthirsty vigilante, the Electrocutioner first made his mark on Gotham City, where he hunted down criminals who had escaped justice due to technicalities in the law. It would appear, however, that he himself has turned to crime in recent years, as evidenced by his Meta-Brawl appearances and his presence in the Legion of Doom.
Although he sided with Grodd during the mutiny, the Electrocutioner was not singled out for punishment by Luthor. However, it appears that he died in the Hall of Doom’s destruction in deep space.
Elongated Man
Voiced by Jeremy Piven
Fascinated by sideshow acts featuring rubber men, Ralph Dibny discovered through investigation that each one he met also happened to drink a soft drink called Gingold, which contained the juice of a rare tropical fruit from Yucatan. Distilling an unknown chemical from the fruit, Dibny drank a large portion of it and discovered, to his delight, that he gained super human stretching powers. Initially using his powers to become a celebrity, Ralph Dibny eventually decided to use his detective skills and elastic powers to fight crime and solve mysteries as the Elongated Man.
Emil Hamilton
Voiced by Victor Brandt (STAS), Robert Foxworth (JLU)
First Appearance: Adventures of Superman #424 (January 1987)
As impossible as it seems, the man who may have been Cadmus’ greatest asset in their war against the Justice League was once one of Superman’s closest friends. A Nobel prize winner many times over, Professor Emil Hamilton was the general director or S.T.A.R. Labs, a Metropolis-based company dedicated to scientific study. Seeing an opportunity following Superman’s debut in Metropolis, Hamilton quickly formed a research pact with the Man of Steel, in which Superman would allow S.T.A.R. Labs to study Kryptonian technology in exchange for assistance on missions, in the form of information and equipment. This agreement was an academic windfall for Hamilton, who was now able to study firsthand alien tech, such as Superman’s spacecraft and the Phantom Zone projector. He was even able to visit the Fortress of Solitude, an honor reserved for few.
Their friendship, however, began to sour, as Hamilton began to question the wisdom of having such a powerful entity walking unchecked among humanity. These fears were fed by his encounter with the Phantom Zone criminals Jax-Ur and Mala, the account of the parallel world where Superman, driven mad with grief over the loss of Lois Lane, teamed up with Lex Luthor to create a fascist police-state; and the ongoing menace posed by Bizarro … but these fears were tempered with the knowledge that the Superman he knew was a decent and moral individual. That belief was shattered, however, when Superman attacked the Earth flanked by an army of Parademons. And even after it was revealed that Superman was brainwashed by Darkseid, the Man of Steel did threaten Hamilton with bodily harm if he did not operate to save Supergirl’s life. These two incidents forever altered his perceptions about the Kryptonian immigrant—Superman was a definite threat and, realizing that steps would need to be taken should Superman go rogue again, Hamilton pocketed a sample of Supergirl’s DNA for later use.
Later, Hamilton came into contact with Amanda Waller, and—after learning her agenda—volunteered to join the Cadmus Project, and he became their expert in matters regarding genetic engineering. Presumably working from Lex Luthor’s notes detailing his earlier attempts to clone Kryptonian DNA (which produced the imperfect Superman clone Bizarro), Hamilton refined the process—producing clones without the defects of their predecessor. These experiments produced the uncontrollable menace codenamed Doomsday, but they were also responsible for Galatea, a clone of Supergirl who has proved herself to be quite valuable as a field agent. Not all experiments were as successful, however, as the Ultimen proved to be unworkable long-term, as their cellular structure made them unsuitable mentally and physically, but they made excellent temporary foot soldiers during Cadmus’ invasion of the Watchtower.
With the Cadmus Project decommissioned, Hamilton has presumably returned to S.T.A.R. Labs to continue his work. However, the damage done to the friendship he once had with Superman may never recover.
Etrigan the Demon
Voiced by Billy Zane (“The Demon Within”), Michael T. Weiss (“A Knight of Shadows,” “The Balance”), Kevin Conroy (“Kids’ Stuff,” Uncredited)
The unholy spawn of the Archduke Belial and the demoness Raan Va Daath, the demon Etrigan was originally summoned to this reality by his half-brother Merlin, who sought his aid in protecting Camelot’s throne against the forces of Morgaine Le Fay. Despite his evil leanings, the demon fought valiantly against her forces, and he might have overcome them had the nobleman Jason Blood not compromised Camelot’s defenses. Seeking to punish Blood—and desperate to find a way to restrain the barely-controllable demon and stop him from wreaking havoc across the world—Merlin mystically bound the demon to Blood until a time when the fallen nobleman would be able to atone for his sins.
Today, Etrigan is still bound to Jason Blood and can be called forth from Hell at will to fight the forces of Morgaine Le Fay or any others who dare oppose them. However, when not in Blood’s service, Etrigan resides in the underworld and is free to indulge in his wicked pursuits, as well as finding new ways to rise in the elaborate hierarchy of Hell’s demons. In the end, one must not forget that Etrigan is still capable of committing any number of cruel and horrific acts, even though his connection to Jason Blood has tempered some of his darkest impulses.
Evil Star
Voiced by George Newburn (Uncredited)
First Appearance: All-Star Comics #44 (Guy Pompton, December 1948), Green Lantern #37 (Green Lantern Villain, June 1965)
A crime lord and owner of the Ace Movie Rental Agency, Guy Pompton donned the costume of Evil Star in an attempt to prevent Stellar Studios from completing a film using a script that would have exposed his criminal activities. Brought to justice by the superhero community, Evil Star decided to continue a life of costumed crime.
Siding with Luthor during the mutiny, Evil Star was one of the few fortunate Legion members to survive the headquarters’ destruction.
The Extremists
First Appearance: Justice League Europe #15 (June 1990)
Refugees from a parallel Earth called Angor, the Extremists— Lord Havok, Dreamslayer, Tracer, and Gorgon—were the enemies of a superhero team called the Assemblers. However, following their world’s destruction, the supervillain group relocated to “our” universe, where they continue their quest for power.
Members of the Extremists include the following:
Lord Havok
Voiced by John DiMaggio (Uncredited)
First Appearance: Justice League Europe #15 (June 1990)
The leader of the Extremists, Lord Havok wears an incredible suit of armor that provides him with enhanced strength and durability.
Dreamslayer
Voiced by John DiMaggio
First Appearance: Justice League Europe #15 (June 1990)
Responsible for the nuclear holocaust that destroyed Angor, the flame-headed being possesses flight, as well as vast magical abilities.
Tracer
First Appearance: Justice League Europe #15 (June 1990)
A bestial brawler, this villain possesses enhanced senses, as well as superhuman strength, speed, and agility. In addition to his tenure with the Extremists, Tracer also cage fights other supervillains on the Meta-Brawl circuit.
Gorgon
Voiced by Phil LaMarr (Uncredited)
First Appearance: Justice League Europe #15 (June 1990)
A monster with super strength, Gorgon also uses his cranial tentacles to move, to grip, and to crush the life out of his opponents.
Farmer Brown
Voiced by Peter Breck
First Appearance: “Critters“ (September 18, 1998)
A skilled microbiologist dressed to resemble a simple Amish farmer, Enoch Brown turned to a life of crime as protest following the courts banning his genetic manipulation of livestock, following an incident where an enhanced sheep went on a rampage at an agricultural expo. Seeking revenge for his financial ruin, he attacked Gotham City a year later with wave after wave of mutated animals, including enormous cattle, pterodactyl-sized chickens, and giant praying mantises. Demanding fifty million dollars, his activities brought him into conflict with Batman and his protégés, who successfully routed his plot and surrendered him to police custody.
A formidable opponent capable of breeding hordes of monstrous animals, Farmer Brown may one day return to plague the “Bat Folk” again with his beef steroid-infused daughter, Emmylou; his electrified pitchfork, and his folksy, down-home demeanor.
Fastball
First Appearance: Justice League of America #234 (January 1985)
A former baseball player, Malone soon found himself equipped by the Overmaster with an exosuit designed to enhance his pitching ability, which allowed him to throw baseball-like explosive spheres with even deadlier accuracy. Recruited for the villainous super team the Cadre under the name Fastball, Malone struck out against the Justice League, who defeated him along with his team and alien benefactor, but he went on to set better records as a professional supervillain.
Siding with Grodd during the mutiny, Fastball was singled out for punishment by Luthor and, as a result, died at the hands of Killer Frost.
The Fatal Five
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967)
A thousand years into the future, the Terran solar system was threatened by a creature known as the Sun Eater, an extraterrestrial beast that feeds on star matter. Unfortunately, at the time, the Earth’s primary defense—the Legion of Super Heroes—was shorthanded and, as a means to avert this crisis, drastic measures were taken. Possibly taking inspiration from the now-ancient Task Force X program (much in the same way the Legion was inspired by the Justice League), five super criminals were offered pardons in exchange for assisting the Legion in solving the crisis. However, once the Sun Eater was defeated, the group joined forces and became one of the Legion’s most persistent adversaries, the Fatal Five.
In addition to the Legion, the Fatal Five have—via time travel—been threats to the Justice League on two occasions. The first was when the Five used mind control to usurp the Legion and use them as part of an invasion of the capitol world of the United Planets, to which Brainiac 5, after consulting historical records, used time travel to pull three “legendary” Justice League members into the future to help. The second occasion followed a later encounter, when the Emerald Empress and Validus were captured following another battle. Recognizing that they were not capable of containing such powerful villains, Brainiac 5 pulled some strings and arranged for them to be detained a thousand years in the past in the Green Lantern sciencells on Oa. However, the remaining three members also travelled into the past (with Star Boy in tow) to free them, leading to a battle with the Justice League and the Five’s attempt to destroy the sun using the Empress’ Eye of Ekron. In the end, the Fatal Five appear to have perished in battle with Green Lantern Jessica Cruz, and Star Boy sacrificed his life to save the sun.
Members of the Fatal Five include the following:
Mano
Voiced by George Newburn (“Far from Home,” Uncredited), Philip Anthony Rodriguez (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five)
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967)
A native of the toxic planet Angtu, Mano must wear a containment suit at all times, as he cannot survive in the atmosphere of most worlds. Also, he possesses the “anti-matter touch,” the ability to disintegrate anything he touches with his right hand, a power he used to kill everyone on his home world. Acting as the de facto leader during their second encounter with the Justice League, he is also in love with the Emerald Empress, a woman that he cannot safely touch.
Emerald Empress
Voiced by Joanne Whalley (“Far from Home”), Sumalee Montano (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five)
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967)
Sarya of Venegar discovered the Emerald Eye of Ekron, an artifact with powers nearly identical to those of the Green Lantern ring. Once possessed in the past by the Green Lantern Ekron, he lost one of his eyes in battle with the mercenary Lobo, and—over the centuries—the eye became a much-sought after weapon, especially following the demise of the Green Lantern Corps. At any rate, upon possessing the eye, it corrupted Sarya, transforming her into the Emerald Empress.
Easily one of the most powerful members of the Fatal Five, Brainiac 5 determined that the only way to safely contain her was to transport her a thousand years into the past, as the Guardians of the Universe would best know how to imprison a criminal with the powers of a Green Lantern.
Tharok
Voiced by Tomas Arana (“Far from Home”), Peter Jessop (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five)
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967)
Initially a small-time criminal from the peaceful planet Zadron, half his body was destroyed by a stolen nuclear device, and the medical staff saved his life by grafting cybernetic parts onto his organic remains. What remained after surgery was a miracle—a half man, half machine being with increased intelligence thanks to a now-partially computerized brain. However, Tharok now saw himself as a monster, and he returned to crime with a rage and self-loathing that makes him all the more dangerous.
The Persuader
Voiced by Kin Shriner (“Far from Home,” Uncredited), Matthew Yang King (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five)
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967)
Originally a gangland enforcer on his home world, Nyeun Chun Ti, better known as the Persuader, possesses enhanced strength and endurance thanks to the high gravity of his native planet. In addition, he also wields the Atomic Axe, a weapon from Earth’s World War VII, that is sharpened to less than a nanometer, allowing him to cut through anything.
Validus
Voiced by Bruce Timm (Justice League vs. The Fatal Five)
First Appearance: Adventure Comics #352 (January 1967)
At some point in the future, Darkseid will—as retaliation for a previous encounter with the Legion of Super Heroes—abduct the child of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl and, in a manner similar to how he creates his Parademon army, transform him into Validus, a monstrous, near-mindless creature in the hope that either the child or one of the parents will kill the other. Sending the creature into his parent’s past, Validus fell under the control of Tharok, and now uses his incredible strength and ability to shoot bolts of lightning from his brain case in service of the Fatal Five.
Felix Faust
Voiced by Robert Englund
First Appearance: Justice League of America #10 (March 1962)
Initially a respected professor of archeology, Felix Faust later became fascinated by magic and the occult, and his developing views and theories had him removed from the university by his department. Still, he continued his studies, seeking what he came to refer to as “ultimate knowledge,” and he eventually found another likeminded associate in the form of Tala, who he took on as an apprentice and lover. Eventually, Faust became a powerful sorcerer, and he used his newfound might to gain revenge on the academics who casually dismissed his scholarship. His vengeance against his former colleagues achieved, Faust would gain a new patron after coming into contact with Hades.
The Greek god of the underworld, Hades had been consigned to Tartarus following his plot to betray Mount Olympus to the Titans, and he struck a bargain with Faust: his freedom in exchange for the wisdom Faust sought. Faust agreed and made his way to Themyscira, the location of the underworld gate, where he turned the Amazons into stone using a talisman featuring Medusa’s face. Recognizing that the key necessary to unlock the gate was not there, he struck his own deal with Wonder Woman, offering to return her sisters to flesh in exchange for tracking down the parts of the key. She succeeded in bringing the key … as well as her allies in the Justice League. Still, Faust was successful in opening the door, but he was immediately betrayed his ally, as the dark god prematurely aged him to dust. In the end, Hades was dragged back to Tartarus, along with the remains of Faust.
Later, Faust’s spirit was retrieved from the Greek underworld by Tala, now the paranormal expert for the Cadmus Project. Trapped in a magic mirror, he watched as the sorceress attempted to make use of the Annihilator, a powerful suit of armor created by the Greek god Hephaestus. Tricking Tala into reciting a particular incantation, Faust was able to possess the Annihilator armor, and he returned to Tartarus for revenge against Hades. In an attempt to strike a new bargain, Hades offered Faust access to his private library, which Faust was happy to accept, after getting rid of the deity. Later—following an encounter with Wonder Woman and Shayera Hol, who freed Hades from his torment—the armor was destroyed by Shayera’s magic-negating mace, leaving Faust’s soul vulnerable to Hades’ retribution.
Despite his current status as a spirit experiencing perpetual torment in the underworld, it is worth noting that, as an accomplished academic and sorcerer who has had access to any number of magical tomes, it is possible that Felix Faust may rise up to become a threat to the Justice League again one day. Until then, however, he is just another denizen in the Eternal Pit, just like his literary namesake.
The Female Furies
First Appearance: Mister Miracle #6 (February 1972)
Trained by Granny Goodness to be the elite warriors for Darkseid and Apokolips, the Female Furies are incredibly formidable even without their former field leader, Big Barda.
EPISODE APPEARANCES:
“Little Girl Lost”: Lashina, Stompa, Mad Harriet
“Legacy”: Lashina, Stompa, Mad Harriet
“Alive!”: Bernadeth, Lashina, Stompa, Mad Harriet
Firefly
Voiced by Mark Rolston
First Appearance: Detective Comics #184 (June 1952)
A pyrotechnic and special effects genius, Garfield Lynns initially worked for his former girlfriend, pop star Cassidy, until his obsessive nature drove a wedge between them. Fired from his job and unable to handle the rejection, Garfield donned a flying, fireproof costume to become Firefly, a pyromaniac sworn to avenge himself against the woman he felt burned him. However, thanks to the intervention of Batman and Batgirl, Cassidy was saved and Firefly was prevented from burning Gotham City to the ground. However, despite this setback, he stayed on as a Gotham criminal, taking arson jobs and setting fires for insurance fraud.
Later, following a stint at Stryker’s Island Penitentiary in Metropolis, he escaped during a jail break, where he found himself teaming up with a Superman villain, the sexy pyrotechnic Volcana, against the Justice League. And while their escape attempt was thwarted, the arsonist from Gotham may have finally found a woman to make him forget all about Cassidy.
Fire
Voiced by Maria Canals-Barrera
First Appearance: Super Friends #25 (Super Friends, October 1979), DC Comics Presents #46 (Official DC Universe, June 1982)
Caught in the explosion of an experimental organic energy source called pyroplasm, Brazilian government operative Beatriz Bonilla da Costa discovered that she was now able to generate and manipulate a strange, green flame-like substance. Now a member of the Justice League on behalf of her country, the newly christened Fire is easily adjusting to the superhero lifestyle, whether she’s fighting aliens or partying with her friend Ice.
The Flash
Voiced by Charlie Schlatter (STAS), Michael Rosenbaum (Justice League, JLU)
First Appearance: Flash Comics #1 (Golden Age Flash, January 1940), Showcase #4 (Silver Age Flash, October 1956), The Flash #110 (Wally West as Kid Flash, December 1959), Crisis on Infinite Earths #12 (Becomes Flash, March 1986)
The chance victim of a freak electro-chemical accident, Wally West— forensic scientist for the Central City crime lab—awoke to discover that the combination of lightning and chemicals had given him an accelerated molecular composition; one of the benefits being the power of super-speed. Now able to run at speeds approaching the speed of light, West donned the scarlet costume of the Flash to protect his hometown of Central City from any rogues who would consider causing it harm.
Regarded as a people’s hero for his charity work and non-secretive modus operandi, the Fastest Man Alive never hesitates to help anyone in need, whether alone or with his teammates in the Justice League. And although they may sometimes roll their eyes during his moments of immaturity, they have come to value his unique talents and his friendly, easy-going personality. Overall, they are glad to have him as a League member and take pride in seeing him mature as a hero.
Forager
Voiced by Corey Burton
Evolving from the “micro life” spread on New Genesis during their war with Apokolips, Forager is part of a society of humanoid bugs that thrive in colonies beneath the surface of the planet. Initially treated as subhuman by the New Gods, Forager proved himself to be a worthy ally against the forces of Darkseid.
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and DC Comics.
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